Federal and State Grants & Scholarships

Federal Pell Grant

The Federal Pell Grant is available to U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens who demonstrate exceptional financial need. The maximum Pell Grant award is $6,195 for 2019–20, and $6,345 for 2020–21.

To apply, students must submit the FAFSA application. For more information visit Student Aid's Federal Pell Grant page. 

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

The FSEOG Grant is available to U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens who demonstrate exceptional financial need, and who are also eligible for the Federal Pell Grant. The maximum FSEOG award amount at Cornell is $4,000.

To apply, students must submit the FAFSA application and complete Cornell’s Financial Aid application process. For more information visit Student Aid's FSEOG page.

Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship

The Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship is available to students who are either currently enrolled and have a parent or guardian who died in the line of duty as a public safety officer, or to students who were enrolled at an institution at the time of their parent’s or guardian’s death.

For purposes of the Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship, a public safety officer is:

  • As defined in section 1204 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796b)
  • A fire or police officer, defined as an individual who is serving in accordance with State or local law as an officially recognized or designated member of a legally organized public safety agency and provides scene security or directs traffic in response to any fire drill, fire call, or other fire, rescue, or police emergency, or at a planned special event.

Eligibility

  • For 2019–20, must be Pell-eligible and have a Pell-eligible Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of 0-5576. For 2020–21, must be Pell-eligible and have a Pell-eligible Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of 0-5711.
  • Must be less than 24 years of age.
  • Must continue to have a Pell-eligible EFC.

Per the Department of Education, below is the acceptable documentation to determine eligibility for the Public Safety Officers Benefit (PSOB) program administered by the Department of Justice:

  • A written letter of attestation or determination made by a state or local government official with supervisory or other relevant oversight authority of the individual who died in the line of duty while serving as a public safety officer.
  • Documentation of the student qualifying for a state tuition or other state benefit accorded to the children or other family members of a public safety officer consistent with the definition of a public safety officer.
  • Other documentation the school determines to be from a credible source that describes or reports the circumstances of the death and the occupation of the parent or guardian.

You can submit documentation to us by secure fax (607-255-6329), U.S. Mail, or through our secure online upload.  

Award

  • Award would give children of fallen officers who qualify for Pell Grants the maximum Pell Grant amount authorized by federal law.
  • The maximum award is $6,195 for 2019–20, and $6,345 for 2020–21.

Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant

The Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant is available to U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens who are currently enrolled and have a parent or guardian who died as a result of military service in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Eligibility

  • Meet Federal and Cornell Financial Aid Eligibility Requirements.
  • You are not eligible for a Federal Pell Grant because your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) exceeds the maximum requirement for the Pell Grant, but you meet all other Pell Grant eligibility requirements.
  • Your parent or guardian was a member of the U.S. armed forces and died as a result of military service performed in Iraq or Afghanistan after 9/11/01.
  • You were under 24 years of age or enrolled in college at least part-time at the time of your parent’s or guardian’s death.

Award

  • For any 2019–20 Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant first disbursed on or after Oct. 1, 2018, and before Oct. 1, 2019, the maximum award amount is $5,810.91.
  • For any 2019–20 Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant first disbursed on or after Oct. 1, 2019, and before Oct. 1, 2020, the maximum award amount is $5,829.50.

To apply, students must submit the FAFSA application.

New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)

To apply for TAP funds, students must be New York state residents, be attending college full-time, and have a family taxable income (New York State) of less than $80,001. TAP funds are awarded based on a family’s income, and awards range from $500–5,165 for new TAP grant recipients. To apply:

Review the TAP policy for satisfactory academic progress to be sure you’re on track.

NYS Excelsior Program

The Excelsior Scholarship will provide up to $5,500 paid by the state for undergraduates who are New York state residents and U.S. citizens attending New York state's public colleges and universities. At Cornell, this includes the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (including the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, a shared school with the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business), the College of Human Ecology, and the School of Industrial and Labor Relations.

Any aid a student receives from other sources (e.g. TAP, Pell, scholarships, and Cornell grant aid) will first be deducted from the Excelsior Scholarship maximum award, with the student receiving any remaining award funds.

Eligibility includes New York state residency, income eligibility, and course-load requirements while enrolled. Students must graduate on time and live and work in New York state after graduation for as many years as they receive the award or the Excelsior award amount will revert to a loan that must be repaid. Students interested in the Excelsior Scholarship should read all of the Excelsior Scholarship eligibility criteria and post-graduation requirements.

You can contact the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation Scholarship Unit at 888-697-4372 or scholarships@hesc.ny.gov with questions about the Excelsior Scholarship.

New York State Enhanced Tuition Award (ETA) Program

The Enhanced Tuition Award (ETA) Program will provide reduced tuition (up to $6,000, including the TAP award) to New York State residents who are U.S. citizens enrolled in undergraduate studies in a private college or university in New York state. At Cornell, this includes the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Engineering, College of Architecture, Art and Planning, and the School of Hotel Administration at the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business. Cornell has opted to participate in the ETA Program.

As a scholarship whose funding is from outside the university, the NYS ETA award will reduce the self-help component (loans and work-study) of your financial aid package before reducing the family contribution. HESC determines the amount of the ETA award, and if the cap of state funding is exceeded, a lottery or other system will be established to determine who receives awards, with preference being given to already enrolled students.

Eligibility includes New York state residency, income eligibility, and course-load requirements. Students must graduate on time and live and work in New York state after graduation for as many years as they receive the award or the ETA award amount will revert to a loan that must be repaid. Students interested in the ETA program should read all of the eligibility criteria and post-graduation requirements.

You can contact the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation Scholarship Unit at 888-697-4372 or scholarships@hesc.ny.gov with questions about ETA.

Senator José Peralta New York State DREAM Act

The Senator José Peralta New York State DREAM Act gives undocumented and other students access to New York State‐administered grants and scholarships that support higher education costs, providing access to the Excelsior Scholarship, The Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), as well as other state-administered scholarships that were not previously available.
Students meeting the NYS Dream Act eligibility criteria can apply for one or more HESC-administered grant and scholarship programs here.
The application and all information provided will only be used for determining award eligibility and administering awards. Applicants without lawful immigration status will not be asked for their home address and will NOT have to upload financial records.
For additional eligibility information and frequently asked questions, please visit the Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) website.

Questions

Email: NYSDREAM@applyISTS.com

Phone: 888-697-4372

NYS Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Incentive Program

As a partner of the State University of New York, undergraduate students who are New York State residents enrolled in STEM fields in one of Cornell University’s two participating New York State contract colleges (College of Agriculture & Life Sciences and College of Human Ecology) are eligible to participate in the NYS STEM Incentive Program.

Applicants must complete and submit the New York State Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Incentive Program Web Supplement by published deadlines. 

To be eligible for the NYS STEM tuition scholarship, you must enroll beginning with the fall term following your high school graduation.

How much is the award?

Recipients shall receive an annual award for full-time study equal to the annual tuition charged to NYS resident students attending an undergraduate program at the State University of New York (for 2017-18: $6,670), or actual tuition charged, whichever is less. The STEM award will be reduced by the amount of any other tuition-only assistance awards received.

I am eligible for need-based financial aid at Cornell.  How will the NYS STEM Incentive Program scholarship affect my financial aid package from Cornell?

As a scholarship whose funding is from outside the university, the NYS STEM tuition scholarship will reduce the self-help component (loans and work-study) of your financial aid package, but will not reduce the family contribution. If all the self-help support in your award is canceled, in some cases, the Cornell grant aid may need to be reduced or canceled as well.

For additional information, please review the NYS Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Incentive Program website for details about the program.  Students can also contact the Scholarship Unit at 888.697.4372 with questions about the scholarship.

Empire State Diversity Honors Scholarship 

The Empire State Diversity Honors Scholarship (ESDHS) Program provides scholarship funding to students from a broad range of backgrounds who will contribute to the diversity of the student body in their campus or academic program. Limited funding is available for students with demonstrated financial need. Recipients are selected in collaboration with the Office of Academic Diversity Initiatives.